Cross-country season is underway! Our high school’s first meet was today at a local park. My #2 son ran with the extras in the two-mile race, because there were too many junior varsity candidates. He finished first among them, and then ruefully watched his JV teammates traverse the three-mile course. Hopefully, he’ll move up a level at next Friday’s meet.

September 3

The brothers reunite. (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

My older son returned to the nest for the long Labor Day weekend this evening. One of the first orders of business (after dinner at Pei Wei)? Play video games with his younger brother.

September 4

My #2 son practices putting. (Nikon D700; Nikon 105mm)

Before my #2 son started play at a Houston Birdshot 24-hole disc golf tournament, he warmed up his putting skills. Once the tourney began, he had mixed results and didn’t bring home any cash. But he did have a good time thanks to his playing partners—Dolla Bill, Griff, and Sam.

September 5

The college boys! (Nikon D300; Nikon 50mm lens)

My #1 son had a great time with my “third son,” Chase, and their buddy Josh. The three obviously were amused by a video on my older boy’s MacBook Pro.

September 6

The Honda Odyssey needed lots of gas! (iPhone 4)

We started our trek to San Antonio to drop our #1 son back at college with almost a full tank of gas in the Mister’s Honda Odyssey. After we said our goodbyes, the Mister noted that the minivan had half a tank left, plenty to get us back home. But he forgot that he had driven 24 miles before our trip, causing us to almost run out of gas when he decided to take the backroads instead of the highway. We were never so glad to see a gas station!

September 7

The rain is artistic. (Nikon D700; Nikon 85mm lens)

The Houston area got the edge of Tropical Storm Hermine as it breezed through Texas west of us. That meant that we got about a couple inches of rain on and off, making for a dreary day that had some interesting puddles.

September 8

It looks like a duck and walks like a duck . . . . (iPhone 4)

During my morning walk to and from our local park, I saw ducks that really look more like chickens turkeys. The red markings on their heads just look so bizarre. At least they’re fairly friendly and don’t try to attack us . . . like geese.

(Every time I see the ducks, I can’t decide if they look more like chickens or turkeys. I think they’re more like turkeys . . . for now.)

September 9

My #2 son multitasks. (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

My #2 son was in a quandary: He needed to get his World History homework done (reporting on a current event), but he also wanted to complete his fantasy football team before the first NFL game tonight. What to do . . . especially with Mom on nag patrol? Easy solution—multitask! While my younger son waited for his turn to choose players on the iMac, he read the article he was going to write about. He got both tasks done on time . . . but I’m sure he preferred picking his fantasy football team to doing homework.

Another week, another high school cross-country meet. This time my #2 son got to run for the junior varsity and finished fifth on the team. It was a hot, humid early-evening 5K race in a Houston park—not much fun for any of the athletes, especially my younger son.

September 11

American flags fly in my community. (Nikon D700; Nikon 105mm lens)

Today is a somber, sad day of remembrance. I watched some excellent 9/11 documentaries on the History Channel and thought about the lives that were lost and how our sense of innocence was shattered. We will never forget.

September 12

My shy guy (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

As my #2 son and I were watching our Houston Texans open the NFL season against the Indianapolis Colts on TV, I thought I’d try sneaking a pic or two of him. But I wasn’t fast enough to capture his handsome face . . . only his hands covering it. Sigh! Well, at least the Texans actually won!

September 13

Partial cooperation by my #2 son (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

Dear #2 son: Now that your older brother is at college, you have to be a willing photo model for your dear, old mom. If you want me to buy you more Pillsbury Sweet Moments bite-size chocolate fudge brownies, then you must cooperate. I’m not above bribery!

September 14

My younger son drops in a putt. (Nikon D700; Nikon 105mm lens)

The Southwest Handicap Mini disc golf series is starting to wind down. Tonight’s 18-basket venue was a former golf course that definitely has seen better days. My #2 son endured a mosquito-filled round that left him shaking his head over too many missed birdie putts.

September 15

Our new recycling bin (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

It might not seem exciting, but I’m really jazzed that new recycling carts were delivered today to our community. Now that more items are eligible for recycling (like plastics #1-#7 and glass), we need a bigger container. This not only does the trick, but it has wheels, too. So easy to roll out to the curb every Tuesday morning for pickup.

September 16

My #2 son snoozes in the car. (Olympus Stylus Tough 6000)

After I picked up my younger son from high school cross-country practice, we drove to James Coney Island (his favorite hot dog place) where chili dogs were only 87 cents each (no limit). So he ate four, plus french fries and a brownie. Then on the way home, he fell asleep while listening to music on his iPhone’s iPod. Ah, the life of a teenager!

With my #2 son’s high school cross-country meet at Rice University, I hoped we’d be able to see our “third son,” Chase, who is a freshman there. So I e-mailed him in advance and then texted him when I got there with the location. He scooted over on his old Razor (as he always used to do when he came to our house) and was able to cheer on his “younger brother” for a few minutes. It was great to see him, but he couldn’t stay long, because he had to make a costume for some Rice event he was attending this evening.

September 18

#2 test-runs his new Puma spikes. (Nikon D700; Nikon 35-70mm lens)

My younger son decided that he would run faster during spring track season if he had his own spikes, which he also could use for the current cross-country season. So we headed to the Texas Running Company to buy a pair. The salesman, Sam, is an alum of #2’s high school and also ran cross-country and track there. He really knew his stuff! #2 walked out with a snazzy new pair of orange Pumas, and later we drove to his high school’s track to test them out. Hope they help him run as fast as a puma!

My #2 son wanted to run an 800-meter time trial in his snazzy new Pumas as well as practice kicking field goals (why?; because he’s a boy), so once again we drove to his high school. The Mister and I were impressed that he was able to smack the crossbar with the football, especially since he was teeing the ball up on the grass. But that won’t get him a job in the NFL.

September 20

Clementines at Target (iPhone 4)

I felt a little melancholy today as I was shopping at Target. Walking through the store, I seemed to constantly be reminded of all the food products that I don’t buy anymore, because my older son is at college. He loves clementines, but he’s the only one in the family that does. Same with his Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade. And his various flavors of ice cream. Guess I was just missing my boy today . . . as usual.

Instead of finishing his homework, my younger son decided to download a free app, Unblock Me, for his iPhone 3Gs. It helped with his fine-motor skills, but it sure didn’t get his homework done!

September 22

A puzzle tree? (Nikon D700; Nikon 105mm lens)

I took a walk to the Club to score a Diet Coke for me and a Mr. Pibb for my #2 son and decided to take my camera in case I stumbled upon a good POTD op. That’s when I saw this tree, which is losing its bark in such a manner that it looks like there are puzzle pieces on it. I’m not sure if this is normal for this particular tree or why it’s happening at all. Puzzling indeed!

September 23

My jittery friend finally poses. (Nikon D300; Nikon 70-200mm lens)

What a wonderful afternoon! That skittish dragonfly that I was lucky to snap a decent photo of on our society garlic plant recently made a reappearance and was nice enough to stay for awhile! It’s so much easier to get the little guys in focus when they cooperate.

Friday means another high school cross-country meet. Of course, it was hot, humid, and miserable for athletes, parents, and photographers. My younger son didn’t run his best on the tough, hilly three-mile course, but he did have a great finish.

September 25

A red dragonfly sails through the air. (Nikon D700; Nikon 105mm lens)

Somebody pinch me! I actually snapped a decent photo of a dragonfly in the air. The Mister and our #2 son were playing in a disc golf tournament at the same venue where I took pics of a couple dragonflies. When I shot there a couple weeks ago, I didn’t go past a large, open lake. I rectified that today and was able to score this shot.

Isn’t this bear cute? We visited our older son at college, and he gave the Mister a birthday present. I bet the Mister always will cherish it.

September 27

From oven to garbage can. (Nikon D700; Nikon 50mm lens)

I decided to bake sweet potatoes a new way today—without foil. The website recipe said they’d turn out delicious. Know what? They were terrible! I had to pitch them; how disappointing. From now on, foil is my sweet potato friend.

September 28

A huge black-eyed Susan (Canon PowerShot A590)

I saw these huge black-eyed Susans in our neighboring master-planned community during my weekly long walk and finally got around to documenting them with a camera. They’re so big that they actually look fake. I even felt them to make sure, even though I can see where they’re growing from in the ground.

September 29

Trying to buy my #2 son relief. (iPhone 4)

My younger son has suffered from eczema since he was a tyke. It’s always at its worst in the fall due to playing sports in the heat. Add the stress of his sophomore year, and lately the itching and discomfort have kept him awake for hours every night. His dermatologist appointment isn’t until Tuesday, but I talked to the nurse, who gave me several suggestions . . . some of which are in this Walmart cart. Turns out that the Sarna anti-itch lotion and the generic Benadryl have been very helpful in knocking down the current flare.

It’s the final day of September, and it’s too darned hot! Sure, it’s nice that the lows have been around 60 degrees, but highs near 90? No thanks! Fortunately, it looks like the Houston area finally will be cooling off next week. Better late than never!